Trivia Question❓
Which Matthews native and actor is best known for his role as Matthew Fairchild in the popular series The Society and as Evan in the Netflix film The In Between?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
The Weekly Matthews Rundown
December 30, 2025
Welcome back, Matthews! As another week gets underway, we’re rounding up the stories, events, and local gems that make our town such a special place to call home. From what’s happening around downtown to small businesses worth a visit (and a few can’t-miss weekend plans), this week’s issue is all about helping you stay connected, informed, and inspired right here in our corner of Mecklenburg County.
🍜 Curry Gates Restaurant
Craving bold, authentic Indian and Nepalese flavors right here in the Charlotte area? 🍛 Curry Gate brings aromatic spices and time-honored recipes to life with dishes that delight every palate — from rich curries and tandoori classics to handmade breads and flavorful vegetarian options. With multiple local locations including Matthews, Curry Gate has quickly become a go-to for comfort and adventure on a plate. Whether you’re planning dinner tonight or looking to explore something new, let their vibrant menu inspire your next meal.
Read More…
🍝 Enzo’s Italian Market
Enzo’s Italian Market has recently expanded its offerings in downtown Matthews, located at 130 Matthews Station St., and is now open during daytime and early evening hours. This expansion brings a delightful array of Italian culinary experiences to the community, with a menu that includes fresh pasta, sandwiches, espresso, and gelato. In addition to these delectable treats, the market also offers a selection of specialty Italian goods, providing a taste of Italy right in the heart of Matthews. Best of all, admission to this vibrant market is free, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore and enjoy the rich flavors and authentic products that Enzo’s has to offer.
Read More…
🎉 Noon Year’s Eve Party — Family Countdown Celebration
📅 Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025
🕐 Time: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Location: Fullwood Theater, 100 E McDowell St, Matthews
📄 Details: Celebrate the new year a little early with a kid-friendly DJ, fun entertainment, and a balloon drop at noon — perfect for families with younger children.
🔗 Read More…🎬 Matthews Movie Series — Inside Out 2 Screening
📅 Date: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
🕐 Time: 11:00 AM (Sensory-Friendly), 2:00 PM (General)
📍 Location: Fullwood Theater / Matthews Community Center
📄 Details: The new indoor movie series kicks off with Inside Out 2 — a fun, community-oriented film day (admission around $5, concessions available).
🔗 Read More…🎭 The Prince of Egypt — Musical at Matthews Playhouse
📅 Date: Jan. 16 – Feb. 1, 2026
🕐 Times Vary
📍 Location: Matthews Playhouse
📄 Details: Journey through the classic tale with this regional stage production featuring music and drama — a perfect outing for theater lovers.
🔗 Read More…🍿 Upcoming Movie Series — Creed Screening
📅 Date: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
🕐 Time: TBA
📍 Location: Matthews Community Center
📄 Details: Part of the 2026 Movie Series, this Creed screening brings an exciting cinematic experience to the community.
🔗 Read More…
🏡 Matthews, NC Real Estate Snapshot
December 2025
📈 Median & Average Home Prices
📍 Median Sale Price: Around $487,000 – $530,000 in late 2025 depending on source data — with Zillow reporting ~$487,000 median and Redfin showing about $529,900 (up ~14.9% year-over-year).
📍 Average Home Value: ~$492,964, up ~1.7% over the past year.
READ MORE
📊 Market Activity & Inventory
🏠 Active Listings: ~147 homes on the market as of late November 2025.
📉 New Listings: ~38 new listings, indicating modest fresh inventory.
📍 Inventory remains relatively limited compared to demand, consistent with a balanced to slightly competitive market.
⏱ Days on Market & Buyer Trends
⌛ Redfin reports a median ~80 days on market for homes sold in November 2025, notably higher than last year — potentially signaling more careful buyer decision-making or seasonal slowdown.
📝 Homes in Matthews typically garner multiple offers, but the pace can vary by price point and season.
READ MORE
📊 Price per Square Foot
💲 Price per square foot remains strong, with earlier 2025 data showing ~$249 – $240+/sq ft for Matthews area homes.
READ MORE
📍 Market Sentiment
📌 Overall, Matthews continues to show stable pricing and demand, with median values holding firm and modest yearly growth — even as market conditions shift slightly with more inventory and longer days on market compared with the previous year.
READ MORE
Quick Take: 🏘️
Matthews remains a desirable market with steady values and balanced supply/demand heading into the end of 2025. While homes are taking a bit longer to sell and inventory isn’t booming, prices are holding firm — a good sign for sellers and a stable entry point for buyers.
🚧 Major Roadway Projects & Plans
1. I-485 Express Lanes & Interchange Work
Overview: The ongoing I-485 project in the Matthews area will add one express lane and one general-purpose lane in each direction between I-77 and Independence Boulevard (US-74). This includes improvements to interchanges near Matthews.
Status: Project has faced delays, with the express lanes now expected to open by late 2025 or winter 2025 instead of earlier timelines. Work on the John Street interchange in Matthews has contributed to the timeline slip.
Read more…
2. Old Monroe Road / East John Street Corridor (Old NCDOT Plan)
Background: NCDOT had planned to widen East John Street and Old Monroe Road as part of a regional congestion-relief project spanning Matthews, Stallings, and Indian Trail, broken into multiple segments under the U-4714 series.
Read more…Current Update: The Town of Matthews formally declined the four-lane widening proposal for East John Street, pushing back this plan in the downtown area due to local opposition to a large-scale widening and a preference for context-sensitive design (e.g., three lanes with better sidewalks, medians, and multi-use paths). The town plans to pursue federal grant funding (e.g., RAISE) to support a redesigned corridor that better reflects local goals.
Read more…
3. McKee Road Connector Project
What’s Happening: NCDOT awarded a contract to build a ~0.9-mile two-lane extension of McKee Road connecting East John Street and Pleasant Plains Road in Matthews.
Timeline: Tree clearing may start soon, with main construction anticipated through winter 2025 and completion by spring 2027. This improves local connectivity and provides an alternative route through the area.
Read more…
4. Proposed Bike Lanes on Northeast Parkway
Plan: The Matthews Town Commission has discussed adding bike lanes along Northeast Parkway as part of an upcoming resurfacing project, enhancing safety and multi-modal options for cyclists and pedestrians.
Projected Timing: The resurfacing and related work could be complete by spring 2026, with implementation of bike lanes tied to that schedule.
Read more…
🚦 Future & Longer-Term Traffic Plans
5. Independence Boulevard (US-74) Improvements
Plans developed by NCDOT call for widening Independence Boulevard between I-485 (Matthews) toward Uptown Charlotte and potentially adding new interchanges (e.g., at Matthews-Mint Hill Road), to alleviate regional congestion. Public meetings and design phases have been part of this evolving plan.
6. CRTPO (Regional Transportation Plan) Projects
Longer-range projects in the Draft 2026-2035 Transportation Improvement Program include:
Interchange construction around Matthews-Mint Hill Road on US-74 (Independence Blvd).
Road widening projects (e.g., NC-51/Matthews Township Parkway) planned for the early 2030s.
Continued improvements to the John Street/Old Monroe interchange.
Read more…
🧭 What’s Changed or Not Moving Forward
East John Street Widening: Matthews’ rejection of the four-lane widening means that portion of the old NCDOT plan is effectively paused; a scaled-down corridor vision favored by the town may take its place.
Read more…Greenway Enhancements: While not a traffic plan per se, expanded greenways (e.g., new segments near Pineville-Matthews Rd) provide alternative non-car routes for residents.
Read more…
💡 Answer to Trivia Question:
Tyler Barnhardt. He grew up in Matthews and attended David W. Butler High School before starting his acting career.
📲 How to Add the Matthews Pulse App to Your Phone’s Home Screen
(No App Store required!)
Matthews Pulse is a web-progressive app, which means you can add it to your phone just like a regular app—without downloading anything.
✅ On iPhone (Safari)
Open Safari (important—this won’t work from Chrome on iPhone).
Go to Matthews Pulse.
Tap the Share icon (square with the arrow pointing up).
Scroll down and tap “Add to Home Screen.”
Tap Add in the top-right corner.
👉 You’ll now see the Matthews Pulse icon on your home screen—tap it anytime for quick access.
✅ On Android (Chrome)
Open Chrome.
Go to Matthews Pulse.
Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
Tap “Add to Home Screen” (or “Install App”).
Confirm by tapping Add.
👉 Matthews Pulse will now function just like an app on your phone.
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